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Community Readiness in the Face of ICE Arrests

President Trump campaigned on a threat to deport one million immigrants from this country per year.  We saw an ongoing escalation of the numbers of immigrants targeted in Massachusetts throughout 2025 and continuing into early this year, but still well below deporting one million people.  However, this is beginning to change. Over this past year … Continued

Back to School: What Immigrant Families Should Know

As immigration enforcement increases across the country and protections such as Temporary Protected Status end for some countries, many immigrant families are living with fear and uncertainty. That fear is affecting whether some children make it to school. Recent data show that 17% of parents cited ICE activity near schools as a barrier to attendance. And that … Continued
29th Annual Immigrants Day at the State House Day 1: Immigrant Rights Conference Preparing For Action Tuesday March 18th 2025

MIRA’s first Immigrants’ Day at the State House Spring Conference March 18: Preparing for Action Together – get your tickets now!

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This year, in preparation for the 29th annual Immigrants’ Day at the State House, MIRA is hosting our first Immigrants’ Rights Conference! The conference will be held March 18th from 9am to 6pm at the Multicultural Arts Center in Cambridge. Preparing For Action, it will be an opportunity for advocates and community members to come … Continued

Good News (yellow sun coming out from behind grey cluds)

Now The Good News 2/20/25

Good News

Birthright citizenship: Preliminary injunctions issued by 4 judges in 5 cases.  On Wednesday, a federal appeals court denied an administration request to lift the injunction issued by the Seattle court. Asylum: ACLU has sued over the ban on asylum seekers Refugees: Catholic bishops have sued over the freeze in refugee resettlement funding. National organizations are … Continued

Policy Update Federal

02/19/2025 Federal Policy Update

Policy Updates

CBS reported on Wednesday that USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Service) will indefinitely stop processing applications for people who entered the country on a categorical parole program (CHNV (Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela) Parole program, Uniting for Ukraine, etc). This applies both to applications for temporary status, such as Temporary Protected Status, and applications to … Continued

Policy Update Federal

02/10/25 Federal Policy Update

Policy Updates

Federal Updates A US District Judge in New Hampshire joined judges in Washington and Maryland in issuing a preliminary injunction against the administration’s efforts to ignore the Constitution. The suit, brought by NH Indonesian Community Support with the support of the ACLU and others, seeks to block Trump’s executive order that limits birthright citizenship in … Continued

Policy Update Federal

02/06/2025 Federal Policy Update

Policy Updates

On Friday, a news report revealed that the administration is planning to rescind parole under the Process for Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela program (CHNV). This move was expected following the president’s Executive Order rescinding all categorical parole programs, but nothing has been officially announced yet. Some advocates fear that revocation could make individuals an … Continued

Protecting Our Immigrant Communities Campaign Launch!

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It’s official! On Wednesday, MIRA Coalition members, state legislators, and allied organizations and immigrant community members rallied on the State House steps for a press conference launching the Protecting Our Immigrant Communities campaign, and pressed for state action on proposed legislation that would defend immigrant communities from federal overreach. Headlined by lead sponsors of the … Continued

Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition

Statement in response to President Trump’s proposal to use Guantánamo Bay as a detention center for immigrants in deportation proceedings

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In response to President Trump’s proposal to detain immigrants undergoing deportation proceedings in Guantánamo Bay, Elizabeth Sweet, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition, issued the following statement: “Detaining immigrants in Guantánamo Bay is as absurd as it is inhumane. President Trump once again is trying to distract the public by … Continued

Policy Update Federal

1/30/25 Federal Policy Update

Policy Updates

On Monday, the Trump Administration placed a freeze on trillions of federal spending, including grants. This freeze would have impacted a broad array of federal spending, including funds for citizenship programs, Head Start, energy assistance, shelter funding, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. These cuts would have devastated communities, organizations, and state budgets, and the … Continued

1/30/2025 Protecting Our Immigrant Communities Rally Press Release

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Press Release For Immediate Release January 30, 2025 Contact: Alex Psilakis | apsilakis@melwoodglobal.com | (508) 641-9761 State Lawmakers, Immigration Advocates Gather to Launch “Protect Our Immigrant Communities” Campaign Pro-immigrant rally illustrated the need for Massachusetts to push back against President Trump’s xenophobic rhetoric and executive orders BOSTON – On Wednesday, January 29, the Massachusetts Immigrant … Continued